James



UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. RHEA, OF RHEAS' MILLS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR or THREE-FOURTHS TO JOHN w. HORN, or SAME PLACE.

STALK-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,851, dated October 4, 1881.

Application filed May 14, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, JAMES C. RHEA, of Rheas Mills, in the county of Collin and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Gutters; and I do hereby dethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved stalk-cutting machine. Fig.2 is a top viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the front 5 end or bracket for the attachment of the draft.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like lettersof reference.

This invention relates to machines for-cutting corn and cotton stalks and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings hereto annexed, A A represent a pair of runners or framebeams, the frontends ofwhich converge toward a forwardly-inclined bracket, B, provided upon its upper. and under sides, respectively, with forked straps O D, secured in position and to the arm or bracket B by bolts E, or in any other suitable manner. The prongs F F G G of the forked straps G D extend horizontally in a rearward direction, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and form hearings in which the frame-beams or runners A A are pivoted upon suitable bolts, H.

The beam A is provided at a point near its rear end with a loop, bail, or mortise,.I, in which is pivoted an arm, J, extending toward the beam A. The said arm J is provided at 40 or near its center with a clip, K, upon the bolt L of which is hinged or pivoted a rod, M, connecting the said arm J'with the beam A, which latter is provided with a loop or mortise, N, in which the connecting-rod M is pivoted upon a vertical bolt.

The beam A is provided with uprights O O, supporting a curved or segmental bar, P, having a series of notches, Q. An upright, R, at or near the center of bar P, carries a pivoted 5o arm or lever, S, havinga spring catch or pawl, T, capable of engaging any one of the notches Q in the bar P. The lower end of lever S is connected by a pivoted rod, U, with the outer or free end of lever J, above referred to.

A suitable rod and handle is provided, by means of which thespring-catch T may be conveniently operated.

It will be seen that by operating the lever S the toggleointed arms J M are operated so as to draw the rear 'ends of the framebeams or runners A A together or apart, as the case may be, in any position to which they may be adjusted. The said-fraine-beams may be retained by causing the catch or pawl T to engage the proper notch Q in the curved or segmental bar P, said means for adjusting the beams also acting as braces when locked in position, thus dispensing with the aid of anyauxiliary braces.

The frame-brains or runners are provided at their rear ends with suitably-constructed laterally-extending knives or cutters V, and a handle, WV, which also serves as a brace for the segmental rack-bar, is secured to the runner A, as shown.

By this invention the frame-beams may be adjusted while the machine is in motion, the advantage of which will be readily appreciated. The machine is simple, durable, and convenient.

Havingthus described myinvention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States In a stalk-cutter, the combination of the pivoted converging beamsA A ,provided with the outwa-rdly-proj ectin g cutters V, the bar J, pivoted to the beam A and centrally connected to arm J by clip K, rack-bar P, connected to beam A, pivoted arm or lever S, connected with free end of arm Jby rod U, and provided 0 with a pawl for engagingwith said rack-bar, the several parts constructed and relatively arranged to operate substantially in the manner as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. RHEA.

Witnesses J. R. LITTELL, GEO. '1. GRAHAM, 

